There really isn't a whole lot to pick from. Jos Buttler wil be delighted to get called up and so have to return from India where he's ripping up the IPL, hasn't played any red ball cricket for ages.

Dom Bess is just the next cab off the rank, and wouldn't have been called up if Jack Leach hadn't busted his thumb.

The one fella who should be getting picked is Joffra Archer, but he's really cracked it big time, the hottest bowler in IPL, and can't be picked by England for about another 6 years or so. Means he doesn't need to go down the Hales/Rashid route of appearing disloyal by retiring from red ball cricket.

Stokes and Woakes have been terrible in the IPL... can't see a whole lot of point in playing them both, unless Stokes is justa bat.

Bess can, at the very least, hold up an end, and is a pretty good batsman so maybe that gave him the edge. He hasn't played all of Somerset's games this season due to Leach being first choice, and not all pitches at this time of year being spin friendly.

There are a few glimmers of hope in the CC in both batting (Clarke, Gubbins, Foakes, Pope) and bowling (Bess, Virdi, Stone, Tongue, Porter, Coad), I don't think there are many first class fixtures for a while now though.

Dom Bess has 63 first class wickets at an average of 22.49 and is 20 years old. He's not exactly a dull selection, even if Virdi is the flavour of the month. Also has a first class ton and and 80 both scored this year.

Buttler back in is... surprising. I can see the "why" behind putting an attacking batsman at 7, just not really why it's him. Vince himself would have been much better lower in the order than at 3, and if it's Surrey teenagers we want in the side, Ollie Pope is on the hottest of hot streaks.

Ultimately though, it's not a terrible selection. The problem is we have a lot of depth in some positions (RFM bowlers, wicket keepers) and not much in others (fast bowlers, opening bats) so you have to make the decision to either put some square pegs in round holes or pick players who aren't even close to being the best eleven cricketers in England. Tough gig.

Bess probably is the next cab off the rank but id have loved to have seen Amar Virdi picked.

Pakistan and India both competent players of spin so I expect the seamers will have to do most of the work.

Up to the start of this season Virdi had 6 wickets at 45. He may be the answer, but you have to give these lads a chance to learn their craft first.... this is why the ECB's messing with the CC is such a problem. How the hell is Virdi supposed to learn if he's not playing 1st class cricket? I don't think they've done Mason Crane any favours by sticking him in too soon.

Dom Bess and Jack Leach have had a bit of a leg up at Ciderabad, prepare a spin friendly pitch, at least it gives them some sort of chance to learn.

Northants County Ground, always used to be reasonably friendly for spinners which is why our last 2 decent spinners Monty and Swann learned their trade there.

Dom Bess has 63 first class wickets at an average of 22.49 and is 20 years old. He's not exactly a dull selection, even if Virdi is the flavour of the month. Also has a first class ton and and 80 both scored this year.

Buttler back in is... surprising. I can see the "why" behind putting an attacking batsman at 7, just not really why it's him. Vince himself would have been much better lower in the order than at 3, and if it's Surrey teenagers we want in the side, Ollie Pope is on the hottest of hot streaks.

Ultimately though, it's not a terrible selection. The problem is we have a lot of depth in some positions (RFM bowlers, wicket keepers) and not much in others (fast bowlers, opening bats) so you have to make the decision to either put some square pegs in round holes or pick players who aren't even close to being the best eleven cricketers in England. Tough gig.

Thing with Buttler is that he is hugely talented... therefore they think he should be able to do Test cricket, just that so far he can't. A proper left field punt would be stick him in to open with Stoneman, drop Cook to 3, Root 4

As a Somerset fan, I've watched Bess and Leach bowl a lot over the last 2 seasons. Leach is the more accurate at present, but Bess gets more spin and has better flight. Bess is potentially the best young player Somerset have produced since Trescothick (plenty of Somerset fans agree). His fielding and batting are excellent too. He's a better long-term prospect than Leach. Haven't seen Virdi bowl yet. Quite annoyed that England have picked Bess as was hoping he'd get a couple of unencumbered seasons at Somerset.